Baffin Island & Greenland Explorer

Baffin Island & Greenland Explorer

This voyage combines two outstanding locations: Canada’s wild and remote Baffin Island and the glaciated western coast of Greenland. We will explore deep fjords, immense icebergs and small coastal villages while encountering the special wildlife of the Arctic, including birdlife, marine mammals and polar bears.

Suggested Itinerary

We depart Ottawa this morning on our scheduled flight to Iqaluit, Nunavut, on Baffin Island. Upon Iqaluit we take a walking tour of the town and board our expedition ship, in the afternoon. After settling into our cabins and exploring the ship, we enjoy a welcome cocktail and cast off, setting sail for the remote Canadian Arctic and West Greenland.

Located in Davis Strait, Monumental Island is a known location for walrus. We explore by zodiac along the shoreline looking for these fascinating creatures, and keep an eye out for polar bears as well.

Nestled in the heart of Cumberland Sound, the village of Pangniqtuuq (Pangnirtung) is beautifully situated between the mountains and the sea. This remote community is a well-known centre for traditional and contemporary arts and crafts, including carvings, prints and colorful textiles. The Angmarlik Visitor Centre features a wonderful interpretive display sharing the lifestyle and history of the Thule and the modern Inuit.

Marking the northern headland of Cumberland Sound are the dramatic cliffs of Cape Mercy. As the Baffin Bay ice recedes throughout the summer, this stretch of the Baffin coast is a great place to find polar bears coming ashore. We explore this region, planning to hike the shoreline ridges, paddle the bays and zodiac cruise through the ice on the lookout for Arctic wildlife.

Sunshine Fjord straddles the Arctic Circle at 66 degrees, 33 minutes north of latitude. Depending on the weather we may cruise across the Circle on the ship, by zodiac, or maybe cross it on foot. Whichever way, it’s a thrill to be above the Arctic Circle. Sunshine Fjord offers terrific hiking opportunities, from long routes that offer wonderful views of our surroundings to less strenuous options along the shoreline. For the sea kayakers, the sheltered waters of the fjord provide great conditions for paddling.

Ice conditions along the Baffin coastline will dictate our navigation today. This is a fascinating transition zone to explore due to the rich and varied wildlife species we expect to encounter along the ice edge. We keep a lookout for bearded, hooded and ringed seals and walrus. Polar bears are often found in the vicinity – with such a rich abundance of food sources in close proximity, these are rich hunting grounds. It is also not uncommon to see bowhead whales cruising along the edges of the ice. If conditions allow, we launch the zodiacs and explore through the ice floes on the lookout for wildlife. Eventually we push into the broad expanse of the Davis Strait charting an easterly course towards Greenland. From this point onwards, huge icebergs will be present, making for incredible photographic subjects in the soft Arctic twilight.

Qeqertarsuaq is situated at the head of Disko Bay. The Inuit name for this location translates literally as ‘large island’. After the main landmass of Greenland, this is the territory’s second largest island. It is a place of great historic and geological interest. Eric the Red, the 9th century Norse Viking, is believed to have used this island as a base for hunting, fishing and exploration. Mineral deposits containing native iron and hot springs are another feature of the area. We explore the southern coast and visit the island’s principal settlement of Qeqertarsuaq, home to a small, hardy community.

If one word could sum up today’s experience it would be ‘ice’. Even our expedition team members, with years spent exploring the Arctic and Antarctica, will take a moment to reflect on the awesome ice sculptures that surround the ship in all directions. Truly one of the wonders of the world, the Jacobshavn Icefjord (a UNESCO World Heritage site) spews gigantic tabular icebergs out into Disko Bay. The glacier that creates these stunning monoliths advances at over 40 meters per day, around 50 cubic kilometers of ice annually! Our approach to Ilulissat is always dependent on the amount of ice in and around the mouth of the fjord. Our Captain and officers are skilled ice navigators and our ship has one of the highest ice ratings of any vessel exploring Arctic waters.

We will explore the fjord behind the town of Sisimiut before going ashore to explore. Characterised by colorful local houses, the town’s backdrop is a towering granite peak. We hope to meet a few of the traditional Greenlandic kayakers and to see a demonstration of ‘Eskimo rolling’ by one of the former Greenland kayak champions. A small museum is another interesting diversion, as is walking around town with your camera capturing the picture-postcard setting.

Today we sail into one of the longest fjords on the planet. Overlooking the fjord sits the town of Kangerlussuaq, a key outpost on the west coast of Greenland. An exciting day lies ahead as expert guides take us to view and experience the vast expanse of the Greenland ice cap. Covering roughly 80% of the surface of Greenland, the ice sheet measures approximately 1.7 million square kilometers. It’s the second largest ice sheet on earth, second only to continental Antarctica. Our trip takes us through fabulous scenery and there’s a good chance of seeing muskox, reindeer and local birdlife. Our expert local guides will take us walking on the actual ice cap – a huge thrill for many of us. Later this afternoon, we return to the ship and tonight our chefs will have prepared a special farewell dinner attended by the ship’s Captain. It’s a wonderful time to celebrate and reflect on a remarkable journey through the heart of the Arctic.

Our journey through the Arctic is all but complete as we disembark the ship and make our way to the airport. A charter flight returns us to Ottawa. A transfer is provided from the airport to a central location downtown.

Adventure Options

Sea Kayaking

Sea Kayaking

Led by experienced guides and paddling in small groups you will get an easy and intimate access to remote areas along the coastline.